Boiler-feeder



J. RINTA & A. MATSON.

BOILER FEEDER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. is, 19m.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

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EACQB INT-A AND ALEXANDER WATSON, U15 WEST FITGHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUELER-FEEEEBO specification of Letters Patent Patented Apr 3h, third,

Applicationfiled August is, ten. semi No. ieaeae.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAooB RINTA and ALEXANDER MATSON, citizens of the United States,'and residents of West Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and lm proved Boiler-Feeder, of which the follow- The invention has for its general objects to improve the construction and operation of apparatus of this character so as to here liable and eficient in use, comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, install and keep in operative condition, and so. de signed as to be entirely automatic in operation as long as a supply of water is maintained in the main tank,

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a feed ap aratus of the character referred to which includes a pinrality of valves operatively connected with a motor which. is actuated by steam from the boiler and which has a float-controlled valve, all of which parts are in. a novel arrangement whereby water flows from the main to the auxiliary tank while communication between the boiler and auxiliary tank is cut oil through the water teed pipe, and when the water in the auxiliary tank reaches a predetermined height the supply of steam to the motor is reversed, so that the first mentioned valves are operated in such a manner that the water from the main ta is out ed, communication established between the auxiliary tank and boiler for water to flow from the latter, and also communicationis established between the steam space of the boiler and the top of the auxiliary tank to equalize the pressure between the two.

An additional object is the provision of an automatic air vent valve which allows the air to escape from the auxiliary tank during the charging thereof.

With such objects; in view, and others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement oi parts which will be set forth with particu larity in the following description and claims appended hereto. in the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention. and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views,

Figure 1. is a diagrammatic view of the boiler feed apparatus with certain, parts'in hill section and indicating the position of the valves when water is feeding to the auxiliary tank from the main tank;

rig, 2 is a-similar view showing the condition of the parts when Water feeds automatically from the auxiliary tank to the boiler.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a boiler, B a main water supply tank or reservoir, and (J an auxiliary or secondary tank which is normally steam-tight. The bottom of the tank B is connected with a pipe 1 which leads to the tank 0, there being in this pipe a valve 2, the movable part of which has an arm 3 provided with a slot l. An operating rod 5 has a pin 6 which engages in the slot 4, whereby the reciprocation of the rod will swing the arm 3 to open or close the valve 2. The rod 5 is connected with the piston 7 of a steam-actuated motor D, the cylinder 8 of which has its opposite ends connected with steam supply pipes 9 and 10 The pipes 9 and 10 are connected with a two way valve E located within the secondary tank (3, and the steam pipe 11 connects the top of the boiler A with the valve E, so that steam can be admitted to either end of the cylinder 8, according to the position. of the movable part 12 of the valve E, 'lhe movable element 12 of the valve E has a crank arm 13 which is hingedly connected at i l with a connecting rod 15, which latter is provided with a longitudinal slot 16 in which engages a in 17 on the upper arm 18 of a bell crank ever 19. This lever is 'fulcrumed at in the tank 0, and its arm ltd open, so that water flows by gravity through the pipe 1 from the pipe B to the tank C. The float gradually rises independently of the lever 18 until a certain point is reacehd, when the said lever is caused to move so that the Weight 18 thereof will soon pass over a vertical dead center line extending through the pivot point 20, when the arm 18 will move suddenly to the left and cause the movable element 12 of the valve E to be shifted through the connecting means 15 and 13. Steam is now admitted to the left end of the cylinder 8 through the pipe 9, and the dead steam passes out of the right end through the pipe 10 and exhaust pipe 6, which is connected with the valve E and leads out of the tank C to the atmosphere. When the piston moves to the right the valve 2 is closed, so that the supply of water is cut off.

The water flows from the secondary tank C to the boiler A through a pipe 30 which includes a valve 31, the movable part of. which has an arm 32 similar to the arm 3 of the valve 2, but the valve 31 is adapted to be opened while the valve 2 is closed, or vice versa. Thus, when the motor D closes the valve 2 the valve 31 will be opened and water will flow from the tank C to the boiler A. To facilitate this flow a steam equalizing pipe 33 connects the pipe 11 with the top of the secondary tank C, and in this pipe 33 is a valve 34 having a crank arm 35 similar to the crank arm 32 and operatively connected with the motor D. The valve 34 opens or closes with the valve 31 simultaneously.

To relieve the pressure in the tank C while the water is flowing into it, a relief valve F is employed. This comprises a cylinder 36 having a vent opening 37, and slidable in the cylinder is a piston 38 having a vent opening 39; The piston is urged downwardly by a lever 40 having a welght 41, although other means may be provided for this purpose. When the boiler pressure is cut off from the tank C, the piston 38rdrops, so that the port 39 registers with the port 37, and air can flow out of the tank. As soon as the tank is filled and is again con nected with the boiler through the equalizing pipe 33, the boiler pressure acts on the piston 38 to raise the same, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to fill the boiler directly from the main tank a by-pass 42 is provided between the pipes 1 and 30, and in this by-pass is a manually-operated closing valve 43.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while we have de scribed the principle of operation, together with the a paratus which we now consider to be the est embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire Patent:

l. The combination of a boiler, a main tank, an auxiliary tank, a valve through which water flows from the first to the second tank, a valve through which water flows from the second tank to the boiler, a steamactuated motor connected with the valves for opening one while closing the other, float means in the auxiliary tank, a valve in the auxiliary tank for controlling the supply of steam to the motor, and a mechanism between the float means and last-mentioned valve for actuation by the float means to a predetermined point, and then operative independently of the float means to open or close the last-mentioned valve.

2. The combination of a boiler, a main tank, an auxiliary tank, a valve through which water flows from the first to the second tank, a valve through which water flows from the second tank to the boiler, a steam-actuated motor connected with the valves for openin one while closin the other, float means in the auxiliary tan for controlling the supply of steam to the motor, an equalizing pipe between the secondary tank and the boiler, anda valve in said pipe and operatively connected with the motor to open and close with the secondmentioned valve.

3. The combination of a boiler, a main tank, an auxiliary tank, a valve through which water flows from the first to the second tank, a valve through which water flows from the second tank to the boiler, a steamactuated motor connected with the valves for opening one while closing the other, float means in the auxiliary tank a valve for controlling the supply of steam to the motor, a mechanism between the float means and lastmentioned valve for actuation by the float means to a predetermined point, and then operative independently of the float means to open or close the last-mentioned valve, and an automatic relief device on the secondary tank for allowing air to escape when the water flows into the secondary tank.

4. The combination of a boiler, a main tank, an auxiliary tank, a valve through which water flows from the first to the second tank, a valve through which water flows from the second tank to the boiler, a steam-actuated motor connected with the valves for openin one while closin the other, float means in the auxiliary ta for controlling the supply of steam to the motor, an equalizing pipe between the secondary tank and the boiler, a valve in said pipe and operatively connected with the to secure by Letters naeaeei motor to open and close with the secondmentioned valve, and a weighted vent valve normally held closed by the boiler pressure in the secondary tank and adapted to automatically open when the pressure in said tank is reduced at the time of How of water thereto from the main tank.

5. The combination of a boiler, a main tank, an auxiliary tank, a valve between the tanks,a valve between the auxiliary tank and. boiler, a motor connected with the valves for opening one while closin the other, a valve in the auxiliary tank an connected with the steam space of the boiler and to opposite ends of the motor, an exhaust conduit leading from the last-mentioned valve to the atmosphere, a weighted lever having a lost motion connection with the movable part of the valve in the auxiliary tank and adapted to drop suddenly after passing a dead center position, and a float in the auxiliary tank united by lost motion connection with the said lever.

6. The combination ofa boiler, a main tank, an auxiliary tank, a valve between the tanks, a valve between the auxiliary tank and boiler, a motor connected with the valves for opening one while closing the other, a valve in the auxiliary tank and connected with the steam space of the boiler and to opposite ends of the motor, an exhaust conduit leading from the last-mentioned valve to the atmosphere, a weighted lever having a lost motion connection with the movable part of the valve in the auxiliary tank and adapted to drop suddenly after passing a dead center position, a float in the auxiliary tank united by lost motion connection with the said lever, and alpressure equalizing valve between. the upper part of the auxiliary tank and boiler, said equalizing valve having connection with the said motor, whereby the equalizing valve and second-mentioned valve open and close simultaneously.

JACQB RINTA. ALEXANDER MATSUN. 

